Canadiens lineup tonight: Montreal's projected lineup for game against Detroit Red Wings | Dec. 20, 2024

The Montreal Canadiens will look to make it two wins in a row when they face the Detroit Red Wings on Friday in the first of two games that the two teams will play back to back. Friday's game will be played in Detroit with the Habs on the road, while tomorrow's game will be played in Montreal.

In the Canadiens' most recent game on Tuesday, the team picked up a big 6-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, snapping a two-game skid that saw the team drop back-to-back losses to the Penguins and the Jets.

On the flip side, Detroit is riding a two-game win streak into tonight's game that's seen them pick up wins over the Maple Leafs (4-2) and the Flyers (6-4) en route to tonight's clash with the Habs.

When the two teams take the ice tonight, the Canadiens will be without several players, with Rafael Harve-Pinard and David Reinbacher both on the injured reserve list. In addition, after acquiring Alexandre Carrier, the team has him listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Montreal Canadiens projected lines

Forwards:

1. LW Cole Caufield - C Nick Suzuki - RW Juraj Slafkovsky
2. LW Alex Newhook - C Kirby Dach - RW Patrik Laine
3. LW Josh Anderson- C Christian Dvorak - RW Brendan Gallagher
4. LW Emil Heineman - C Jake Evans - RW Joel Armia

Defense:

1. Lane Hutson - Mike Matheson
2. Kaiden Guhle - David Savard
3. Arber Xhekaj - Jayden Struble

Goalies:

• Sam Montembeault
• Cayden Primeau

Powerplay:

1. Patrik Laine, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson
2. Brendan Gallagher, Kirby Dach, Emil Heineman, Alex Newhook, Mike Matheson

Penalty Kill:

1. Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Kaiden Guhle, David Savard
2. Christian Dvorak, Josh Anderson, Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble

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Looking at the odds for tonight's Canadiens vs Red Wings game as well as upcoming games on Montreal's schedule

Heading into tonight's game between the Habs and the Red Wings, Detroit is sitting as the betting favorite, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise given how they've played this season compared to Montreal.

On FanDuel, Detroit is a -160 favorite while on the flip side, Montreal is a +132 underdog. On DraftKings the odds are closer to even, however, Detroit is still a -155 favorite while Montreal is a +130 underdog.

If these odds were to remain consistent between now and puck drop, it would take a $155 bet on Detroit as the favorite to win $100 on DraftKings, while a $100 bet on the Habs could win $130.

Following Friday's game, Montreal will head back home to host the Red Wings tomorrow night, before hitting the road for a six-game stretch that will kick off with a stop in Columbus on Monday for a showdown with the Blue Jackets.

The team will then be back in action next Saturday when they face off with the defending Stanley Cup champions in the first leg of a back-to-back that will see them play the Lightning the following night.